This beautiful church, The Sanctuary De Chimayo isn’t very far from my home in New Mexico. Each year on Easter weekend thousands of pilgrams walk to the little village of Chimayo to go to this church. I see them walking along the highway days before Good Friday, but everyone ends up here for Good Friday. I’ve never done the walk, but I plan to one day. You can read about it here.
I hope my new mantra that helps me give things to God is helpful to you!
I have A LOT going on in my life as many of you do too! A lot going on in my life means that I have a lot going on in my mind. I try to quiet my mind, but thoughts, both positive and negative, keep swirling. Can you relate at all?
I told my mother and sister earlier in the week that I knew God is going before us and making a way for several situations with which we are dealing. I believe this concept with all my heart. In fact, believing that God goes before me in all life’s situations is a bedrock of the foundation of my faith.
The Bible tells us that God goes before us.
God led the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promise Land. He physically led them! Exodus 13:21 tells us
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.
The Israelites were reminded of this in Deuteronomy 1:30. This scripture lets me know that it wasn’t just a one time thing. God will go before us just as he did before.
The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt.
Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us again. I love that these scriptures are personal and specific!
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
In 2 Samuel 5:24 we are given another specific example of God going before us. This scripture reminds me that I need to be alert and watching for God’s provisions.
When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.”
I believe these scriptures, and I’ve seen God go before me numerous times in my own life. He has made the way for me over and over again so why do I try to manipulate things, keep them under my control or worry?
My Personal Example Of Giving Things To God
I need to have a medical procedure done. I am waiting on the hospital to call me to set it up. Waiting is not one of my strong suits! I waited a week and then anxiety set in. I messaged the Dr.’s office on my patient portal to let them know that after a week nothing was scheduled.
Even though I had reached out to my doctor, my mind kept spinning.
“What else can I do?” “What if they don’t get back to me soon?” “How can I get ahold of the “surgery scheduler” to schedule my procedure?”… You get the idea.
Then in my mind I heard:
“You’ve set this in motion, now set it aside.”
I started repeating this to myself over and over, and I calmed myself down.
How do I set it aside? I remember that God is going before me. God is in control.
Remember our monthly check ins? I ask “what am I carrying?” I can’t carry all of this. I don’t want to carry all of this, but God… But God… But God can.
I can’t sit back and expect God to handle all of the things going on in my life. I have to take control and be an advocate for myself, especially where health care is concerned. However, I don’t need to dwell on things after I have done so.
I set things in motion, then set them aside.
Set Them Aside = Give Them To God
There you have it. My new mantra. I hope this helps you!
Leave a Reply